diff --git a/marklogic/vectors.py b/marklogic/vectors.py
index f166f63..ede8d97 100644
--- a/marklogic/vectors.py
+++ b/marklogic/vectors.py
@@ -1,45 +1,43 @@
+"""
+Supports encoding and decoding vectors using the same approach as the vec:base64-encode and vec:base64-decode
+functions supported by the MarkLogic server.
+"""
+
 import base64
 import struct
 from typing import List
 
 
-class VectorUtil:
+def base64_encode(vector: List[float]) -> str:
     """
-    Supports encoding and decoding vectors using the same approach as the vec:base64-encode and vec:base64-decode
-    functions supported by the MarkLogic server.
+    Encodes a list of floats as a base64 string compatible with MarkLogic's vec:base64-encode.
     """
+    dimensions = len(vector)
+    # version (int32, 0) + dimensions (int32) + floats (little-endian)
+    buffer = struct.pack("<ii", 0, dimensions) + struct.pack(
+        "<" + "f" * dimensions, *vector
+    )
+    return base64.b64encode(buffer).decode("ascii")
 
-    @staticmethod
-    def base64_encode(vector: List[float]) -> str:
-        """
-        Encodes a list of floats as a base64 string compatible with MarkLogic's vec:base64-encode.
-        """
-        dimensions = len(vector)
-        # version (int32, 0) + dimensions (int32) + floats (little-endian)
-        buffer = struct.pack("<ii", 0, dimensions) + struct.pack(
-            "<" + "f" * dimensions, *vector
-        )
-        return base64.b64encode(buffer).decode("ascii")
 
-    @staticmethod
-    def base64_decode(encoded_vector: str) -> List[float]:
-        """
-        Decodes a base64 string to a list of floats compatible with MarkLogic's vec:base64-decode.
-        """
-        buffer = base64.b64decode(encoded_vector)
-        if len(buffer) < 8:
-            raise ValueError(
-                "Buffer is too short to contain version and dimensions."
-            )
-        version, dimensions = struct.unpack("<ii", buffer[:8])
-        if version != 0:
-            raise ValueError(f"Unsupported vector version: {version}")
-        expected_length = 8 + 4 * dimensions
-        if len(buffer) < expected_length:
-            raise ValueError(
-                f"Buffer is too short for the specified dimensions: expected {expected_length}, got {len(buffer)}"
-            )
-        floats = struct.unpack(
-            "<" + "f" * dimensions, buffer[8 : 8 + 4 * dimensions]
+def base64_decode(encoded_vector: str) -> List[float]:
+    """
+    Decodes a base64 string to a list of floats compatible with MarkLogic's vec:base64-decode.
+    """
+    buffer = base64.b64decode(encoded_vector)
+    if len(buffer) < 8:
+        raise ValueError(
+            "Buffer is too short to contain version and dimensions."
+        )
+    version, dimensions = struct.unpack("<ii", buffer[:8])
+    if version != 0:
+        raise ValueError(f"Unsupported vector version: {version}")
+    expected_length = 8 + 4 * dimensions
+    if len(buffer) < expected_length:
+        raise ValueError(
+            f"Buffer is too short for the specified dimensions: expected {expected_length}, got {len(buffer)}"
         )
-        return list(floats)
+    floats = struct.unpack(
+        "<" + "f" * dimensions, buffer[8 : 8 + 4 * dimensions]
+    )
+    return list(floats)
diff --git a/tests/test_vectors.py b/tests/test_vectors.py
index 02c4e76..ef0b26e 100644
--- a/tests/test_vectors.py
+++ b/tests/test_vectors.py
@@ -1,6 +1,6 @@
 import math
 import ast
-from marklogic.vectors import VectorUtil
+from marklogic.vectors import base64_encode, base64_decode
 from marklogic import Client
 
 VECTOR = [3.14, 1.59, 2.65]
@@ -9,17 +9,17 @@
 
 
 def test_encode_and_decode_with_python():
-    encoded = VectorUtil.base64_encode(VECTOR)
+    encoded = base64_encode(VECTOR)
     assert encoded == EXPECTED_BASE64
 
-    decoded = VectorUtil.base64_decode(encoded)
+    decoded = base64_decode(encoded)
     assert len(decoded) == len(VECTOR)
     for a, b in zip(decoded, VECTOR):
         assert abs(a - b) < ACCEPTABLE_DELTA
 
 
 def test_decode_known_base64():
-    decoded = VectorUtil.base64_decode(EXPECTED_BASE64)
+    decoded = base64_decode(EXPECTED_BASE64)
     assert len(decoded) == len(VECTOR)
     for a, b in zip(decoded, VECTOR):
         assert abs(a - b) < ACCEPTABLE_DELTA
@@ -29,7 +29,7 @@ def test_encode_and_decode_with_server(client: Client):
     """
     Encode a vector in Python, decode it on the MarkLogic server, and check the result.
     """
-    encoded = VectorUtil.base64_encode(VECTOR)
+    encoded = base64_encode(VECTOR)
     assert encoded == EXPECTED_BASE64
 
     # Use MarkLogic's eval endpoint to decode the vector on the server
@@ -49,7 +49,7 @@ def test_encode_with_server_and_decode_with_python(client: Client):
     encoded = client.eval(xquery=xquery)[0]
     assert encoded == EXPECTED_BASE64
 
-    decoded = VectorUtil.base64_decode(encoded)
+    decoded = base64_decode(encoded)
     assert len(decoded) == len(VECTOR)
     for a, b in zip(decoded, VECTOR):
         assert math.isclose(a, b, abs_tol=ACCEPTABLE_DELTA)